Conspire

//kənˈspaɪə(ɹ)// verb

verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To secretly plot or make plans together, often with the intention to bring bad or illegal results; to collude, to connive, to plot. intransitive

    "They conspired against [Joseph] to slay him."

  2. 2
    engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together wordnet
  3. 3
    To agree, to concur to one end. intransitive

    "The press, the pulpit, and the stage / Conspire to censure and expose our age."

  4. 4
    act in unison or agreement and in secret towards a deceitful or illegal purpose wordnet
  5. 5
    To work together to bring about. transitive

    "Rain and sweat conspired to smudge her mascara."

Synonyms

All synonyms
collogueabetaccordact in concertact togetheraffiliate

Example

More examples

"They conspire to overthrow the oppressive government."

Etymology

From Middle English conspiren, from Old French conspirer, from Latin conspirare, conspīrō, from con- (combining form of cum (“with”)) + spīrō (“breathe”).

Related phrases

co conspirator

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.